- Conditions that cause fluctuations in emotion, like depression and anxiety, can lead sufferers to search for release. 
- Those who self-harm have reported that while they do not want to do it, it is accessible and provides some measure of relief. 
- Shame, low self-esteem, and other sources of emotional pain can lead to the desire to inflict personal harm.
- Some may use self-harm to communicate the severity of their pain and express a need for help

Reasons and Causes for Self-Harm

- Younger adults
- Women
- Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic groups (BAME groups)
- People experiencing economic hardship
- People with disabilities, chronic physical illnesses and mental disorders

Higher risk groups for self-harm and suicidal ideation 

Contrary to popular belief, self-harm does not always indicate active suicidality. Instead, many who engage in self-harm cite it as a coping mechanism that helps them continue to live despite deep emotional pain and adversity. While some injuries could be lethal, those who self-harm often mitigate their own risk by planning their injuries, sterilizing the instruments they use, and practicing after-care. 

Non-Suicidal Self-Harm

Ultimately, it is the individual's response to the high risk situation that affects whether or not they will relapse. For example, a person who uses effective coping skills, such as leaving the situation or positive self talk, is less likely to relapse than someone who does not use effective coping skills. A person who has coped successfully with a high-risk situation will experience a greater sense of self-efficacy, thereby decreasing their chance of relapse in the future.

Coping Skills and Relapse

The act of purposely inflicting pain and damage to one’s body. Methods include cutting, burning, scratching, and other means of self-injury. Self-harm can also be emotional or internal, which may involve acts like deliberately triggering oneself or consuming toxic substances.

Grand Valley State University

Health psychology research relating to self- harm includes:
- Risk assessment
- Risk management
- Self-harm and causes
- Stigma contributing to risk for self-harm

Health Psychology Research Relating to Self-Harm

Woodley, S., Hodge, S., Jones, K., & Holding, A. (2020). How Individuals Who Self-Harm Manage Their Own Risk—‘I Cope Because I Self-Harm, and I Can Cope with my Self-Harm’. Psychological Reports. https://doi.org/10.1177/0033294120945178

How individuals who self-harm manage their own risk—‘I cope because I self-harm, and I can cope with my self-harm’

Self-Harm

Risk assessment is a clinical interview administered by a professional to service users in order to inform them of adverse outcomes from their behaviors and to create a safety plan to minimize further risk. Historically, service users have had little decision-making power or voice in the plans made.

Risk Assessment of Self-Harm

Risk management is the process of identifying harmful outcomes and incorporating or reducing certain behavioral patterns to keep at-risk individual safe and mitigate damage. Managing inherently risky behaviors is a long-term process, but the goal is to cease them completely in a way that is achievable for those struggling to stop self-harming.

Risk Management of Self-Harm

Society considers self-harm a deviant and distressing behavior and those who are suffering are often mischaracterized as violent, unstable, and/or suicidal. Additionally, risk assessments often center around the authority of the practitioner and can further push service users away from seeking help. 

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